How has technology changed farming?
Over the years, farming has changed from using simple implements and equipment to using more updated, technologically advanced methods.
This has allowed farmers to increase productivity and to more efficiently manage their crops and livestock.
Below are just some of the innovations that have changed farming for the better.
Farm implements have changed
The combine harvester was one of the first farm implements to introduce an easier harvesting method to farmers. It was introduced in 1886 but since then has changed and grown in leaps and bounds.
Modern combines have a much larger header attached to the front, with interchangeable blades for different crops. Today’s harvesters are also equipped with programmes and software such as sensors that track the amount of grain slipping through the threshing mechanism and GPS technology to record performance data.
Using data to farm better
With the innovation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analysing, farmers have been able to use data to farm ‘better’. Sensors on farm equipment and plants, satellite images and weather tracking are all technological advances which allow farmers to collect data for farming decisions.
Lance Donny, the founder of the startup OnFarm, believes that in the future, the use of water and fertiliser will be measured and monitored in detail, possibly on a plant-by-plant basis. Having this data to hand will allow farmers to check their water usage and think of ways to reduce it and use more sustainable farming methods. Better information also provides farmers with better yields.
Genetically Modified Organisms for disease-free crops
There has always been controversy surrounding genetically modified crops, but one thing is clear: it helps farmers to clothe and feed the world and boosts agricultural production. Cotton is one such crop which has been genetically modified to become highly disease resistant.
Disease resistant crops meant that less fertiliser will need to be used, making for more eco-friendly farming practices. Some of the hybrids developed have been created to offer higher yields, which is vital to farmers on commercial farms. GMOs have had a bad reputation in the past, but with the number of farmers dwindling, they are a helpful addition to the agricultural industry.
Automation for lighter workloads
‘Pervasive automation’ has become a buzzword in the agricultural industry of late, and with good reason. Pervasive automation refers to any machinery that can reduce operator workload, and is popular with industrial and commercial farmers.
Some examples include automated vehicles controlled by robotics or remotely through terminals, such as Real Time Kinematic navigation systems to make seeding and fertilisation routes as optimised as possible. In the future, we could see tractors, balers and harvesters operating on a ‘plug-and-play’ basis due to enhanced automation technology.
Vertical hydroponic farming
Vertical planting is often used by those who have small gardens and cannot plant in the ground, but this manner of growing has moved into the agricultural world and is proving to be popular, especially in urban areas where farmland may be smaller than in rural areas.
Farmers are combining vertical planting with hydroponic farming to garner good crop yields and results. Vertical hydroponic farms cultivate plant life that may not be able to grow in certain locations, and also allows farmers to farm and harvest year round, improving productivity and profit. Farmers can also save space on their land by using hydroponic housing for certain crops, as well as decrease their need for fertiliser and pesticides by planting crops in an enclosure.
Biological pest control and growth enhancers
As farming moves toward a more environmentally-friendly approach to farming, we will most likely see more and more biological pest control and growth enhancing methods being used. One example is the nature-friendly nematicide produced by Bayer CropScience, known as Votivo.
Advanced technologies such as high-throughput screening are allowing companies to multiply beneficial organisms quickly for more biological pest control and growth enhancer availability. With the agricultural industry becoming more and more technologically advanced, research is going into biological pest control measures and growth enhancers, hopefully reducing the need to use harmful chemicals on crops.
4G Network introduction
Farmers who use the technology mention above often find themselves frustrated at the slow internet speeds available on their farms. With the introduction of 4G networks, this problem will be alleviated, and they will be able to access their information much quicker.
4G networks are vital to deploying high-speed Internet services in rural areas, and the growth of the 4G system means that rural areas will see 4G networks sooner rather than later. A 4G network will allow a farmer to quickly access data needed regarding a certain crop or animal, even if he is out in the field and away from any WiFi access.
Final thoughts
Technology has changed farming practices so that farmers do not have to rely solely on their intuition but can make decisions based on accurate, concise data gathered from their land. Tools and farm implements have come a long way since their innovation in the early years, with automation well on its way to becoming more commonplace in agriculture. Technology has changed farming for the better, and we should continue to ‘watch this space’ when it comes to the creativity of those in the agricultural industry.